Premier League: Man United 8 Arsenal 2

Manchester United continued their perfect start to the season with a spectacular 8-2 win over a beleaguered Arsenal at Old Trafford.

A Wayne Rooney hat-trick and a brace for Ashley Young, as well as strikes for Danny Welbeck, Nani and Park Ji-Sung exemplified the gulf in class between the two sides.

Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie replied with strikes for Arsenal, with the latter also missing a first-half penalty for the Gunners.

Champions United looked ominous from the outset and exposed the fragile Arsenal defence in the 22nd minute.

Anderson set up the goal with a lofted pass that saw Welbeck squeeze in between two defenders before the young striker nodded home with ease.

Arsenal had a the chance to lodge an immediate reply when Jonny Evans fouled Walcott inside the penalty box, but van Persie’s feeble spot-kick was well saved by David De Gea.

And the visitors were made to pay almost immediately as United burst forward through Young, who curled a sublime shot from the left edge of the area past the outstretched Wojciech Szczesny.

Rooney made it 3-0 in the 41st minute, sending a well-placed free-kick inside Szczesny’s left post to record his 150th career goal for United.

The industrious Walcott earned Arsenal a goal after latching onto Tomas Rosicky’s through ball to offer the Gunners a glimmer of hope before the break.

But the poor defensive habits of Arsene Wenger’s side continued as another free-kick was conceded with United in attack, allowing Rooney to bend his second free-kick past Szczesny.

The England international then split the Arsenal black-line with a through ball to Nani, who chipped home from close range, before Young set up Park for 6-1.

Van Persie grabbed a consolation soon after before a penalty to United saw Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson sent off for his push on Patrice Evra, with Rooney stepping up to complete his hat-trick.

Young got his second with another curling wonder-strike adding to Arsenal’s misery and capping a win that sends United to the top of the Premier League.